Neighborhood Revitalization

Making the Neighborhood Beautiful

My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. – Isaiah 32:18

Parker Street Ministries uses volunteers and partnerships with landlords, residents, and outside agencies to help stabilize families and beautify the blighted spaces in the neighborhood.

Necessary home improvements are identified and PSM serves as an advocate to connect homes to resources—whether from other nonprofits, volunteers, landlords, or the City of Lakeland. These activities reflect our desire to make this neighborhood a beautiful, desirable place to live both for homeowners and renters.

We believe the maintenance of our facilities sends a message of hope and love to neighborhood residents and to those who pass by on Massachusetts Avenue. This takes lots of volunteer effort!

We also help healthy neighborhood businesses by discouraging unhealthy and often illegal businesses. Our activities here involve regular communications with the Lakeland Police Department regarding criminal activity and how we can help end it. In the past, this has included painting addresses on curbs to aid first responders and sprucing up the neighborhood through trash and brush cleanups that clear sight lines for police officers.

We also help residents identify business practices that could be harmful, including rent-to-own, pawn shop loans, paycheck advance, frequent use of fast-food restaurants, and income tax cash advance sites. These businesses often prey on under-resourced neighborhoods.

Finally, to be in the larger Lakeland community, PSM has representatives serving on the Neighborhood Association Coalition, Code Enforcement Board, and more.